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Richmond Times-Dispatch • Monday, December 1, 2008 All )j/l Editor: Cynthia S. Paris inRich.com (804) 649-6801 Keyword: opinion [email protected] E I a-"

DIV Transition at a Glance Congress in 2006 set the Feb.19, 2009, deadline for the will continue in the analog mode after Feb. Are You Ready transition. It did so not just because DTV provided such 17. improvements for , but because DTV technol- ogy uses less spectrum. That makes room in the old TV If you're hearing about new "digital cable" or "digital For Feb. 17 Transition? spectrum band for new technologies, such as satellite" boxes, don't confuse those messages with talk wireless broadband access to the . It also frees about DIV converter boxes for the digital broadcasttele- up spectrum that can be devoted to new public safety vision transition. It's easy to get confused, unfortunately, WASI-IINGTON tion" is going to happen soon. Yet as uses. because many cable operators and satellite providers he clock is now ticking - loudly I've traveled the country in recent are upgrading their own multichannel systems to digital - on the final countdown to the weeks to promote DTV readiness, I've If your TV set was built before 2002, it probably is an technology now, too. (They're doing it for the same basic T nation's transi- learned that many Americana stifi old analog receiver. You can use it after Feb. l7to receive reason: to take advantage of digital technology's ability to tion. In 79 days, your over-the-air TV aren't sure what they must do to pre- local television signals but only if the set is hooked up to pack more channels, and better pictures and sound, into maybe useless to you unless you act to- pare for it. cable, satellite TV (in most cases), or a digital converter a smaller amount of .) But the cable and satel- day. On Feb. 17,2009, federal law re- If you are one of the approximately box. lite digital upgrades have nothing to do with the Feb. 17 quires most stations 12 percent of Americans nationwide If your DIV converter-box coupons have expired, you DTV transition - and if you are a cable or satellite sub- broadcast only the who use only antennas (set-top "rabbit will not be allowed to apply for new ones. You are free, scriber, you do not need to upgrade to digital service in new digital signals. ears" or rooftop hardware), rather than however, to ask a friend or neighbor who doesn't need order to continue receiving your local broadcast chan- Will you be ready? cable or satellite TV, to receive local coupons to apply for them and then turn them over to nels through cable or satellite systems. television signals, you will need to take - Digital television, you. If you are a satellite TV subscriber in a smaller mar- TV's biggest techno- a few steps to make sure the TVs in ket, your provider may not retransmit your local broad- logical leap since its your household are ready. Ass mem- If you subscribe to cable or satellite TV but have one or ROBERT ber of the Federal Communications more sets that rely on an , you'll cast signals through its satellite system. If so, you are no invention, delivers have to acquire a converter box for each such set that different from any over-the-air subscriber and so must MCDOWELL crisper pictures, bet- Commission, I strongly encourage ev- take additional steps to continue receiving your local sta- ter sound, and more eryone to join the government and me- you want to use after Feb.17. dia industry to help those most at risk tions. Check with your satellite provider if you have any free programming If you need to acquire a converter box, look for one la- questions. channels for consumers. In fact, many of being left behind when the change beled "analog pass-through." Such boxes will allow your Americans already enjoy the benefits of cornea: the elderly, the infirm, low-in- to continue to receive certain "low power" If you are a tech-savvy type, please offer nowto help DTV because most stations have come individuals, and non-English TV stations, which often provide foreign-language or reli- others - especially your family, friends, or neighbors in broadcast both analog and digital sig- speakers. gious programming. These stations will not have to con- those at-risk groups -acquire and connect their con- nals for several years. These are the people who need to vert to digital operations for several years yet, so many verter boxes and, if necessary, adjust their antennas. get the DTV message - and act upon Thanks to the growing number of it - today. So let me convey a few sim- news stories and promotional cam- ple points, and ask you to relay them to paigns, most Americans - up to 92 • If you need to acquire a digital definitely wifi have to "scan" the new subsidy to buys converter box, don't anyone who may seem uncertain about converter box for an analog set, buy it channels into the device for it to work bother. It isn't a permission slip; you're percent by recent estimates - know what is happening: that something called the "DTV transi- today. These simple electronic devices properly. If you have problems receiv- free to purchase a box whenever you • If you have a TV set that was built work with antennas to translate digital big signals, call 1-888-CALL-FCC or wish. It takes weeks for the govern- before 2002 and uses an antenna, you broadcast signals into a language that check the Web at www.DTV.gov. ment to process coupon requests - have two options: (1) buy an inexpen- old analog sets can understand. The and in the meantime, you're losing pre- sive digital converter box and connect U If you need help to pay for a DTV DIV data cheapest boxes cost about $40, the converter box, apply for the govern- cious time to hook up the box, check it to your existing analog set, or (2) same price as the coupons Congress your antenna connections, and start en- buy a new, more expensive TV that has ment coupon today. Each household FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell wel- has subsidized to help Americans make may acquire up to two coupons. To ap- joying free digital broadcast TV right comes the opportunity to answer qees- a built-in digital . (TVs that are the transition. The boxes are widely away. hooked up to cable or satellite TV will ply, call 1-888-DTV-2009 or check the tions about the Feb.17 transition and how available in electronics stores. Web at www.DTV2009.gov. And as continue to function, and most TV sets In short, don't wait until Feb. 17 to Richmonders can prepare for it. soon as you receive your coupon, run get ready for DTV. Act today, and help When: Today, 3p.m. manufactured after 2002 already have • Once you gets converter box, digital tuners built into them. If your book it up to your TV set immediately. -don't walk - to a store to buy a box. others do the same. ' (lii .1...... Where: Virginia State Capitol, 910 Capitol newer TV says "digital ready" or You may need to adjust your antenna Tl--°'-"""" "°" • Rsbnrt McOowell is a commissioner with the St., House Room 3 "ATSC" on it, you're all set.) to pick up the digital signals, and you • If you do not need the government Fndnral Commonisations Commission.